REGULAR users of a road prone to icing up have been told the problem is being tackled as part of an upgrade.

And with the ‘ice season’ here, timing of improvement works at Harvil Road could be crucial in preventing accidents.

Water running off nearby fields has been blamed for turning the country road between Ickenham and Harefield into a skid pan during freezing conditions.

One of the worst accidents took place about two years ago when a driver skidded on ice and her car somersaulted into a field.

Resurfacing was carried out last weekend by Hillingdon Council, which has been working with Veolia Water to tackle the problem.

Councillor Keith Burrows, cabinet member with responsibility for transport said: “The work we have been undertaking is carriageway works, which are part of our highway resurfacing programme as we realised it needed doing. As for the water from the farm, I’m sure officers have spoken to them but we would not plan on putting in new drainage systems. We would of course make sure all of our gulleys are clear to take the water.”

Veolia Water has been carrying out water mains renewal along Harvil Road, which it and the council believe will help stop the problems of leaks, another icerisk.

Harvil Road also suffers from problems with mud, left on the road by lorries visiting businesses along its length.

The council has been working throughout the year with the companies to solve or at least reduce the problem.

Atul Sodha, who owns Londis, in Moorhall Road, Harefield, said: “The road was resurfaced right down to the railway bridge, which is very good, as we have had serious accidents happening down there a number of times. A lot of work seemed to be being done, there are underlying problems which need to be solved.”

While Mr Burrows agreed that there had been a number of accidents he felt it was mainly down to the drivers.

He added: “That is the nature of the road, there have been a number of accidents down there throughout the years but we believe driver error has been the main contributiong factor, rather than the road itself."